chrisbaird said:The intensity of light is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the electric component of the wave. Intensity and wave amplitude can be thought of as basically the same thing.
chrisbaird said:Unfortunately, the word amplitude can mean different things. Mathematically, the amplitude of a vector is just its length, so by definition it never goes negative because negativity is contained in the directional part of the vector and not in the length. In physics, "amplitude". Also in mathematics, amplitude can refer to the magnitude of a complex number, which is also always positive. Finally in physics, "amplitude" can mean the part of the wave's functional form left after the waving part has been isolated away. Used in this sense, the amplitude can be negative. The problem is that EM waves are complex-valued, waving, vector fields. This means that the word "amplitude" is present in all three forms in EM waves, and we must be more specific in relaying which one is meant.
In my previous comment, I meant the amplitude in the sense of what is left when the waving part is put to the side. So if the wave is E = E0 cos(kx - ωt) then the light intensity is proportional to |E0|^2.
A photonics system is a technology that manipulates and transmits light particles, known as photons, to carry and process information. It involves the use of optical components and devices such as lasers, LEDs, and fiber optics.
The LED signal variation in a photonics system refers to the changes in the intensity and amplitude of the light signal emitted by the LED. This variation is essential in controlling the transmission and processing of information in the system.
The intensity of an LED signal directly impacts the range and clarity of communication in a photonics system. Higher intensity signals can travel longer distances and are less susceptible to noise interference, resulting in better system performance.
Intensity refers to the brightness or strength of the light signal, while amplitude refers to the height of the signal waveform. In an LED signal, the intensity and amplitude are directly proportional, meaning as one increases, so does the other.
In a photonics system, LED signal variation is controlled through the use of optical modulators, which adjust the intensity and amplitude of the light signal. These modulators can be electronic, acoustic, or optical, and they allow for precise control of the signal variation for optimal system performance.